The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-22
CARE OF PICTURES.
How to Keep Them Bright, Clean ana
Free from All Dust,

y
majority of homes. they get the least
care of any thing. During the house.
cleaning they are removed from their
places. busted with cloth or feather
duster. wiped over and hung up again.
and. with the exception of light dust
ing now and then. this is all the care
they receive from one years end to
another. 1t is too bad that these should
be so thoughtlcssly neglected. for good
pictures do more to brighten the homo
than any other article of furniture.
Most people who are fortunate enough
to be the possessors of oil paintings
know that they should never be hung
in 4 strong light, for if so hung. they
soon take on 4 faded, washed-out APP
pearance, but perhaps these same peo-
pie do not know that chromos suffer in
the same way if exposed for any length
OF time in Il strong light. The word
chrome has IN unipviting sound, being
associated with the advertising card,
yet there are many very fine chromOs.
that even the most artistic would not
be ashamed to hang up in their homes.
The art of chromo-making has reached
so near perfection in the last few years
that many of the finer grades of chro-
mos are much more preferable to the
inferior grades of oil paintings.
Very often in pictures such as litho-
graphs, steel engravings. or any Of
those that have glass over their faces.
dust is observed between the glass and
picture. making an ugly mark on the
face or margin of the paper. This is
caused by the back of the picture not
being covered properly, and owing to
4 knot hole In the boards. or the
crevices between the boards, the dust
works its wav in. As IAN ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure"
it is well to see, before the picture is
put in place. that the back is covered
properly. Get some smooth wrapping
paper, or lacking that. newspaper. and
some paste, gum arabic or thin liquid
glue. Cut the paper large enough to
cover the whole back of the picture and
extend to within an inch or less (ac-
cording to the size of the picture. as
small picture will not require as much
margin as n large one) of the outside
edge on the back of the frame all
around. Paste it firmly all around the
edges. and there will be no dust on the
inside of that picture while the paper
whole.
If the dust is already on the inside of
the picture, then the only thing to be
done is to take the picture from the
frame and dust it. Any woman with
a little ingenuity can do this. First
lay the picture, face down, on fiat
surface; the kitchen table is just the
thing. Take off the paper at the back
if it has any, remove the brads care
fully that are used to hold the board or
boards (for many pictures have two
and three pieces of board at their
backs, joined together to fill the Space),
lift out the boards and lay them aside.
Now comes the picture. which must be
taken out very carefully, for fear of
tearing. Loosen one end and the cor
ners with Il thin-bladed, blunt knife,
then taking hold of the end lift the
picture from the frame. If it has been
put in very tightly it is well to loosen
it carefully along all the edges to pre-
vent tearing; but usually it comes out
very easily. Lay it upon another table.
face up. and with a soft silk cloth dust
it thoroughly. If there are any dust
spots on the margin that the cloth will
not remove. shake over them some dry
flour, rub it gently, then brush of, and |
they will be much improved. Although
the glass can be removed, it is better
to dust it as it is. in the frame. for fear
Of accidents. When the glass has been
we'll busted put in the picture, being
careful to have it straight, fit the
boards into their proper place after
having busted them, and put in the
Drads to hold them in place. Now |
cover the back with paper, and the
picture is finished.
Before hanging pictures. more par
heavy ones. see that the screw
Eyes at the back. through which the
,ord is passed and fastened, are firmly
attached and the cord fastened to them
securely. Be sure that the cord used
S heavy enough to sustain the weight
If the picture, and that the nail or hook
rom which it hangs is securely fas-
ened in beam. For light pictures it
s not of SO much Importance that the
lail or hook should lodge in beam. as
| lath will answer their purpose very
vell but for heavy picture, or even a
Medium weight, it is very important
hat the nail should be fastened firmly
n beam. Have somebody who un-
by sounding with the ham,
ner, find the location of the beam, and
Ion't Try to find it by hammering into
he wall nails. trusting to luck to hit
he beam, for you will only deface the
vail and have little chance of finding Il
'eam in this way.
When buying pictures with gilded
rames, have the frames coated with
ONE white varnish, and you can wipe
If fly specks with milk and water
Without harming the gilt. When dust
ny rough brass or gilt frames. use u
ry. soft paint brush, as this will do
he work better than Il cloth or feather
uster. for it can be worked into all the
revices. Examine the pictures once
4 d while. especially heavy ones. to
ee that the cord is strong and the
oola o,J sc,.a,r ovas ora ti0btlv fas |